Dordt Picked in GPAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll

Dordt University is the defending conference champion, with Concordia placing second last fall.  Dakota Wesleyan was third at conference a year ago.  Dordt is also the defending NAIA National Champion.

The 2023 GPAC Cross Country Championships are Saturday, November 4 in North Sioux City, South Dakota, and will be hosted by Briar Cliff University at the Adams Nature Preserve. 

Coaches could not vote for their own team in the poll.

2023 GPAC Preseason Men's Cross Country Coaches' Poll:

2023 GPAC Cross Country Team Previews – Provided and Written by the Head Coaches

Briar Cliff University

Head Coach: Scott Barnes

2022 GPAC Finish: 11^th

Outlook and Runner to Watch: This year we look for our men to show strength in our upper class man. Last year we had some good things happen and we felt short with some depth. Juan Celio showed incredible strides late in the season as well as in his track season. We will look to him to be a big leader for us this year as well as Kenny Nolan. 

Concordia University

Head Coach: Matt Beisel

2022 GPAC Finish: 2^nd

Outlook and Runner to Watch: The Concordia men's cross country team is poised for placing well at the GPAC Championship in 2023. On the men's side, although we graduated Camden Sesna (multi-time national qualifier in XC and T&F) we return everyone else including XC/T&F National Qualifier Calvin Rohde, All-GPAC runners Jack Ellis, Trevor Kuncl, and Nathan Pennekamp, and other strong runners like Westley Determan, Thomas Gorline, and Aaron Jendro. Our freshman class is our strongest in the past 10 years, with five men who have run between 9:44 and 10:16 in the 3200 in track including 1600, 3200 and XC State Champion Trey Robertson, Aidan Limback, Colin Pinneo, Justin Sherman, and Josh Miller.  For the men, Calvin Rohde is the clear leader among the Bulldog men. He ran a 25:06 8K in fall of 2022, and ran a 14:42 5K this spring.  The men have the potential to place top two in the GPAC, and qualify for the NAIA National Championships in November. Our depth should help us with the men eager to make the most of this season before we lose some talented runners to graduation in May.

Dakota Wesleyan University

Head Coach: Matthew Rosado

2022 GPAC Finish: 3^rd  

Outlook and Runner to Watch: Although we will be light on depth, I believe the quality that we have will shine throughout the season. We look to continue to grow coming off one of the best years in program history. Caleb Sayler placed 11^th at last year's championship, and he is set to prove he can run with the best of the GPAC. He's put together a great summer and will be poised to run deep into November. Our guys remember that feeling from last year's finish and want even more. In the team ranks we won't shine but individually we have the capability to finish in single digits.

Doane University

Head Coach: Brad Jenny

2022 GPAC Finish: 4^th  

Outlook and Runner to Watch: The Doane men's cross country team returns a solid group from last year's squad.  The returners showed good improvement through the track seasons last year.  They were able to add some quality and depth with freshmen/transfers.  All together it will make for a solid group that has set a high standard for themselves this season.  A runner to watch for the men's team will be Thomas Oliver.  Thomas was our top runner at GPAC last year and really came on in the outdoor track season finishing as an All-American in the 3000m steeplechase.  He seems to be very prepared and focused for this season which will serve him very well. "Our men's team finished short of their goals last year which has continued to motivate them to work and improve as a group.  I believe this team has the right mix of runners and leadership that will make them a very tough team as we get into the late season racing."

Dordt University

Head Coach: Nate Wolf

2022 GPAC Finish: 1^st

Outlook and Runner to Watch:  The returning National Champions lose several important runners from their 2022 conference and NAIA championship team.  Gone are past individual champions Eric Steiger, Davis Tebben, and Joe Anderson.  The 2023 team will be led by four returning members of the 2022 championship squad.  Returning All-American Peter Shippy, Thaniel Schroeder, Ethan Summerhays, and Aidan Vorster were part of the squad that raced in Tallahassee, FL last fall.  Additionally, sophomores Sam May and Tage Hulstein gained valuable post-season experience racing to 15^th and 16^th at the GPAC meet in 2022.  A large group of younger runners will vie to build momentum as the squad opens up on September 9 at the Sunflower Opener, held on the campus of Dordt University. Returning 2022 All-American, Peter Shippy, is the Defender male runner to watch.  Shippy is hoping to build on his strong 2022-2023 year that saw him finish top 20 nationally in cross country, national runner-up in the Indoor 5K, and national champion in the steeplechase.  "Beyond his running, Peter is a selfless teammate that invests in the success of all the men on the team. I look forward to his impact on the young runners within the squad." said Dordt Head Coach Nate Wolf. "This team of men will have a great blend of returning runners and young runners that are ready to step into important roles on the team.  We will miss some steady leadership from the past few years but are thrilled with the way new people have already stepped into those roles.  We look forward to continued growth over the course of the season and believe contributions can come from many different runners." added Wolf.

Hastings College

Head Coach: Ryan Mahoney

2022 GPAC Finish: 8^th

Outlook and Runner to Watch: The Hastings College men bring back a young team this year. Senior Tatum Jelleberg is rounding back into form after injuries and health problems the past two seasons.  He has put in quality mileage this summer and should make big gains this season.  Sophomores Deshawn Burks and Tyler Salter made big progress as freshman last year and were just outside of All-Conference in outdoor track. They will look to lead a young group of men who look to move up the conference rankings. Tatum Jelleberg (Senior). Tatum finished top 30 at GPAC XC his freshman and sophomore years. He was not able to finish the 2022 season due to injury and only returned to near form at the end of the outdoor season. Tatum has had a great summer of training and looks to lead a young group men as well as get back to racing at a high level.  "The men's team is relatively small but there is some real athleticism there.  Tatum has run well in the past and at some big meets in the longer distances. He trains well and has put in the work this summer. Deshawn and Tyler are both great athletes and both were figuring out collegiate running last year and went through some growing pains. Those three along with freshman Angel Ortiz will be a very good group. We will just need others to step up into the 5-7 spots to see how successful this team can be.

Midland University

Head Coach: Daniel Gerber

2022 GPAC Finish: 7^th

Outlook and Runner to Watch:  The Midland Men's team is looking to build off a strong track season, in which three of their top 5 runners earned All-GPAC honors at the outdoor track and field championships. It is a veteran group, so although on the smaller side, their experience should bode well during cross championship season. They have a competitive schedule and should be tested throughout the season.  Lucas Hjortkjaer, freshman. Hjortkjaer joined Midland for the spring semester and had a big impact in the mid-distance races during his first season. He has had strong cross country performances in races from 6,000 to 10,000m. 

Morningside University

Head Coach: Frank Wallace

2022 GPAC Finish: 9^th

Outlook and Runner to Watch: The Morningside Men are very young this year, they are hoping to better the position from this past cross-country season. Very hard working and talented group on the rise to move up in the GPAC. They now have a year of collegiate racing under their belts, it is now time to build onto that base. The men's runner to watch this year is RC Hicks.

Mount Marty University

Head Coach: Dan Fitzsimmons

2022 GPAC Finish: 6^th

Outlook and Runner to Watch: We look to be an improved team with a little more depth.  With several newcomers, we will be a work in progress as some of our athletes learn the transition from high school to college. Cristobal Gonzalez returns after a breakout year as a Lancer.  After earning All-Conference honors during indoor and outdoor track, he looks to improve upon his last year performances and hopefully take a few Lancers with him.

Northwestern College

Head Coach: Scott Bahrke

2022 GPAC Finish: 5^th

Outlook and Runner to Watch: The Northwestern College men's team wants to finish in the top four of our competitive conference this year. The young squad placed 5^th last year. Some key returners are Ben VanDeBerg, SO, Trey Engelmann, JR and Alex Nonhof, SR. The men have done a great job of training this summer and all want to improve on their times from last year. The Red Raiders will be a young team this year. They will work hard each day and push one another to get better. Ashton Hughes, Carson Engbers and Payton Van Sickle are three freshman who hope to play a role in Northwestern's success this season. "Our Raider men have guts and are not afraid to work hard. These attributes will help them finish in the top half of our competitive GPAC."

University of Jamestown

Head Coach: Jarvis Jelen

2022 GPAC Finish: 10^th

Outlook and Runner to Watch: Our men's team will be drastically improved from previous years, due to an increase in fitness from returners as well as four newcomers who will likely contribute immediately. We expect to be very competitive in the GPAC this fall. Cole Campbell (FR from Kindred HS, ND) – Cole has consistently improved throughout high school & has had a great summer of training. He has the potential for immediate impact this fall! "This new look team is ready to work & excited to make a big jump in the GPAC this fall!", said Coach Jelen.